real towing capacity

I have a 2010 F150 FX2 (supercrew 145" wheelbase) w/ the 5.4L engine, 3.55 rear axle ratio - the manual says my maximum towing weight is 9800#. The salesperson said I could go even higher - yeah right! Figuring 600-700# in the truck (passengers, etc.) how much should I really tow? Looking @ travel trailers, most of the RV sites & users also push the weight. Any advice before I commit to a trailer?

Look at your GVWR and GCWR. Those are the real limiting factors. Weigh your truck loaded up with passengers. Whatever is left from GVWR is the weight your vehicle can handle as far as other payload and tongue weight of your trailer. The GCWR is the weight of your vehicle loaded up and trailer loaded up. Although going over a little is not really a problem, it would be best to stay within those weights.
Do not listen to those who say you can go over, or even pull that 9800lbs. If you do then most certainly you will be well over the other numbers. When looking at trailers, ignore the empty weight. Your trailer will never be empty. Use the GVWR of the trailer as the weight you will be towing. Tongue weight should be 8 to 15% of the trailer weight.
Also, any trailer over 5000lbs and you must use a WD (weight distribution) hitch. The 5000 is what your hitch is rated at for regular towing (no WD hitch). That also includes a 500lb tongue weight.

Just guessing, without knowing all your numbers, I would think your max would be in the area of 7000lbs. But again that is only a guess. It may be lower.

Your truck has a lot more capacity than mine, so you have more wiggle room in your weights... It's not all about that big "tow rating" either... That "tow rating" is not necessarly meant for an RV either... There are lots of different #9800 'trailers' out there...

Your limiting factor is not going to be the max tow rating. It's going to be payload, which is where 1/2 ton trucks run out of steam first. This number should be on your door sticker. Sure - you can probably tow 9000+# without exceeding that - but NOT with passengers and cargo in the truck. The max tow rating assumes an almost empty truck.

The 5.4 can pull a heavy load, and so can the 6R80. The 9.75" rear is strong, but not as strong as the 10.25" rear in the HD payload package or the bigger Super Duty axles. The frames and springs are different. You also have tire limitations - you should not tow heavy with P-rated tires, you need LT tires, preferably load range E, which ride hard.

And here is something that NOBODY ever talks about; how FAR are you going to tow your load? The farther you go, the smaller percentage of your towing capacity you should use IMO. Why? Towing satisfaction. On a 3,000 mile trip, you'll get darn tired of that load behind you if you are 70% load or higher.

And here is something that NOBODY ever talks about; how FAR are you going to tow your load? The farther you go, the smaller percentage of your towing capacity you should use IMO. Why? Towing satisfaction. On a 3,000 mile trip, you'll get darn tired of that load behind you if you are 70% load or higher.

Excellent point, I remember spring break 2001, DFW to Sout Padre Island. I towed my folks 26' bumper pull all the way there in my 99' w/ 5.4 and 4.10 gears. It towed well, but I was trying to keep a pace of 80 with the other people on the trip. I was wore out after just 12 hours. Oh and I got a rocking 4.8 MPG on one tank, running 85 with a head wind.

I had talked to allot of people about the same thing before i bought my new travel trailer. I was told to make sure and stay under your trucks GVWR and not to exceed 80% of your trucks towing capacity for best towing results. It has worked for me!!

If the trailer came with P tires, someone changed them and you should NEVER put P tires on a trailer.

Brand new travel trailer from http://www.mcclainsrv.com in Denton came with
P205's, maybe someone did pull a fast one on me and swapped them to a P tire when they sold it to us. Tire was ok for trips to the lake and short distances, but after a few months and before we went to Tennessee we changed them

I am thinking about purchasing this truck to tow a car trailer. Ill be towing a 1966 cadillac sedan deville with a curb weight is 4700 lbs and a duel axle trailer that im assuming weighs at most 1500 lbs. Is this a good idea?

Now im only using the trailer for no more than 200 mile trips maybe 4 times a year. I appreciate the help.